12 keywords of the Communique of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China Central Committee

2016/11/04

The strict governance of the Communist Party of China has entered a new era with two regulations passed at a key meeting on Oct 27, paving the way for the Party's national congress next year and its future development.

A regulation on the norms of political life within the Party, and a revision of an intra-Party supervision regulation were adopted at the Sixth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, which ran from Monday to Thursday in Beijing.

Key word 1 - Comprehensive, strict governance of the CPC

Comprehensive, strict governance of the Communist Party of China is expected to inject fresh impetus into the 95-year-old Party and ensure faster economic growth that will contribute more to the global economy.

Xie Chuntao, professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said Party regulations and discipline are instruments for self-management, and they'll become more comprehensive and stricter in the future.

Not only individuals who violate discipline shall face punishment, but Party organizations and disciplinary authorities in charge of supervising them shall also bear responsibility.

Key word 2 - Xi as the Party's "core"

The sixth plenary session officially conferred on Xi Jinping the highest honor of being the Party's "core" leader.

Xin Ming, professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said bestowing on Xi this honor is significant, since it affirms the authority of the central leadership and strengthens the internal solidarity of the Party.

Key word 3 - Political life within the Party

The intra-Party supervision should start with the political life within the Party, and a more comprehensive, stricter governance of the CPC should also start with it, the Plenary Session pointed out.

Xin Ming, professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said a strict political life within the Party is the base of a more comprehensive, stricter governance of the CPC. The new rules should be set according to the changes of the Party, the country and the world.

Key word 4 - Intra-Party supervision

Nothing will be out of bounds and no exception will be allowed in intra-Party supervision.

Intra-Party supervision should be carried out in accordance with regulations and by observing the principles of democratic centralism, top-down organizational supervision, democratic supervision from the bottom to the top, and peer review or critique.

The Sixth Plenum of the 18th CPC Central Committee has injected fresh momentum into the country's anti-corruption campaign in the context of intra-Party supervision, said Li Yongzhong, former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Discipline Inspection and Supervision.

Key word 5- Strict discipline

Strict discipline has always distinguished the CPC from all other political parties. It was strict discipline and its stern implementation that helped the Party lead the revolution in 1949 and achieve rapid economic development over the past more than three decades.

Dai Yanjun, professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said strict discipline applies to every Party member, and it is "a precise incision" to a comprehensive, strict governance of the Communist Party of China in a new era.

Key word 6 - Intra-Party democracy

Intra-Party democracy is vital to the Communist Party of China (CPC), and is fundamental to a positive, healthy internal political environment.

No Party organization or individual should suppress or undermine intra-Party democracy.

Party authorities at all levels must conduct thorough investigations and research, and solicit opinions from various sides before making any major decisions or arrangements.

Party members have the right to, responsibly expose or report any Party organizations or members breaking the laws or flouting the Party's disciplines, it said.

The communique called on authorities to make it more convenient for Party members to express their opinions and create a "political atmosphere of democratic discussion within the Party".

Xin Ming, professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said every Party member's democratic right should be protected, and as the channels to express opinions of Party members should be broadened, so as to stimulate positive energy.

Key word 7 - Anti-graft

The Party will stick to the policy of no restricted zones, full coverage and zero tolerance in its fight against corruption. There will no longer be any place for corrupt officials to hide in the CPC.

Xie Chuntao, professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said the communique has indicated the anti-graft will be always on the road and there will be no end.

Key word 8 - Senior cadres

The sixth plenary session asks senior cadres to take the lead in all respects, and set the bar high, so that Party members and the public follow the example.

The main targets of supervision are the CPC's top organs and officials, particularly senior officials.

Xie Chuntao, professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, said not only individuals who violate discipline shall face punishment, but Party organizations and disciplinary authorities in charge of supervising them shall also bear responsibility.

"Some people thought in the past that if they did not violate discipline themselves, they would not be blamed. But if they are a leader of a Party organization, and a member in that organization commits a serious breach of discipline, they will also be punished for ignorance and failure in supervision," Xie said.

Key word 9 - Power supervision

The plenum approved two documents on the norms of political life within the Party and intra-Party supervision, in order to ensure power wielded by officials is indeed put in the institutional cage.

Power, without checks, leads to corruption. In other words, no matter how many corrupt officials are arrested and punished, more will emerge unless the power structure and personnel management system are overhauled, said Li Yongzhong, former vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Discipline Inspection and Supervision.

Key word 10 - Mass line

The plenary session urged all members to carry out mass line, be people's good servant.

Dai Yanjun, professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, said relying on and serving the people is the primary principle of the Party, and it should be applied into daily work.

Key word 11 - Democratic centralization

The plenary session pointed out that democratic centralization is the basic organizational principle of the CPC, and it's also an important institutional guarantee for the intra-Party political life.

Wang Yukai, a professor of government administration at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said sacked officials and corrupt "tigers" have shown the loopholes in implementing the democratic centralization. The plenary session further specified the work discipline of chief party members at all levels, and will not allow any violations under any circumstances.

Key word 12 - Selection and appointment

The plenary session said the correct selection and appointment of personnel is an organizational guarantee for the intra-Party political life.

Professor Wang Yukai said the core of creating a healthy inner party political ecology is the selection and appointment of people. Ban on bribery should be strictly enforced.